Method for starting gas-conducting lamp and lamp for carrying out the method

• US 5,459,377 A
• Filed: 12/28/1993
• Issued: 10/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian Chang, Lau Kim Khoon, Zheng Yue
• Original Assignee: Chang Brian, Kim K. Lau, Zheng Yue
• Inventors: Zheng, Yue
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US08/174,233
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 315/289, 315/290, 315/244, 315/100, 315/89, 315/DIG. 5, 315/247, 315/227 R, 315/240
• US Class Current: 315/289
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/04 Starting switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/05 Starting and operating circuit for fluorescent lamp

Abstract

According to this invention, there is provided a method for starting a gas-conducting lamp, by which a gas-conducting lamp is started directly by a high-voltage without pre-heating of filament. Such a high-voltage is realized by an inductor-capator resonant circuit (LC resonant circuit) or a tap of an inductor. According to this invention, there is also provided a gas-conducting lamp for carring-out the abovementioned method. The method according to this invention is simple and effective and is adapted to the use of a gas-conducting lamp without filament or that with filament which has been broken or has failed.

Claims

1. A starting circuit for a gas-conducting lamp comprising a lamp tube without a filament;

first and second contacts for connecting the circuit to a source of power at a predetermined power frequency;

a single inductor series connected with said contacts and with said lamp tube;

a single capacitor; and

switching means for switching said capacitor between a first condition in which said capacitor is connected in LC resonance with said inductor for producing a large instantaneous resonant current at said power frequency and a second condition in which said capacitor ceases to be in LC resonance with said inductor to produce a high inductive voltage accross said lamp tube to start said lamp tube and to increase the power factor and/or series impedance of the circuit by said capacitor during the operation of said lamp tube.

2. A starting circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said switching means comprises a switch having two fixed contacts respectively connected to opposite terminals of said inductor, which is connected to said first contacts and an adjustable common contact, said capacitor being connected between said adjustable contact and said second contact.

3. A starting circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said switching means comprises a temperature-sensitive bimetallic element for switching from said first to second conditions upon heating of said bimetallic element by said resonant current during starting of said lamp tube.

4. A starting circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said inductor has a median tap and said capacitor is connected to said median tap in said first condition.

5. A starting circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said switching means comprises a switch having two fixed contacts respectively connected to said first and second contacts and an adjustable contact, said capacitor being connected between said adjustable contact and a point intermediate between said inductor and said lamp tube.

6. A starting circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said inductor has a median tap, and said switching means has at least two fixed contacts and an adjustable common contact, said inductor being connected between said lamp tube and said first contact, one fixed contact being connected to one side of said inductor and another fixed contact being connected to said second contact, said capacitor being connected between said median tap and said adjustable contact.

7. A starting circuit as defined in claim 6, wherein said switching means comprises an additional fixed contact connected to another said of said inductor.